Altus Air Force Base News

 

Retraining gives Airmen a new experience

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kirby Turbak
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - --  Not everyone joins the U.S. Air Force with the job they want or really understand what their job does, for those Airmen they have the possibility to retrain.

Retraining does not just benefit Airmen but the U.S. Air Force as a whole.

"Retraining is important because it balances jobs in the Air Force," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ed Abell, 97th Air Mobility Wing career assistance advisor. "Retraining also helps airman find a career they enjoy."
All first-term Airmen can apply to retrain but must pick from a list of open jobs that change daily.

Airman can see what jobs are open, which ones they qualify for, what they'll have to do to retrain, and information on jobs they're interested in by logging into their myPers account and clicking on the retraining link.

The first step for FTA when retraining should be seeing when their retraining window opens.

FTA with 4-year contracts are eligible to retrain between their 35th and 43rd month of service and those with 6-year contracts are eligible between their 59th and 67th month of service.

Exceptions to these rules are those wanting to retrain into pararescue and combat control, they are eligible two months earlier because applicants must complete their physical ability and stamina test and medical exams.

FTA at Altus Air Force Base that are interested in retraining can attend a Retraining 101 class held bimonthly by the career assistance advisor in the Airman Development Center.

The class goes over when your window to retrain will be open and the process to submit a retraining package.

"I didn't know what I was doing when I wanted to retrain," said Staff Sgt. Michael Ohene, 97th Force Support Squadron manpower analyst. "Talking to my career advisor made it much smoother."

For more information about retraining contact the CAA office at 580-481-6649 or by emailing edward.abell@us.af.mil.